MAPLELEAFSLATEST | NHL TEAM | TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Do me a Faber: How Knies could command similar deal to ex-NCAA teammate

It used to be out of the norm for teams to hedge their bets on their prospects, often forgoing the long-term extensions in order to have shorter 2-3 year deals in order to gauge the trajectory of the player, or sometimes give up on them before they get a chance to shine. But recently, a new trend has emerged where teams are allowing themselves a chance to develop these players with the idea of being franchise staples. Will the Leafs follow suit, and could Matthew Knies use Faber's deal as leverage? Let's take a look.

Owen Power, Jake Sanderson and newest addition to the club Brock Faber have all secured long-term deals with their teams throwing their full support at their rookies and while some may see it as an overpayment, the risk of losing them is too high.

Faber was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 2020 (45th overall) and settled into his own at the University of Minnesota becoming a defensive stalwart before eventually finding his way down the road to the Wild. His first full NHL season was sensational as the young defenseman finished 2nd behind Connor Bedard in the Calder Trophy race; registering an absurd near 25 minutes per night of ice time (strenuous for any player let alone a fresh faced rookie) to go along with 8 goals and 47 points. He was a defensive menace for the Wild and will continue to be for years to come.

Where does Matthew Knies fit into all of this? Well, as most teams want to lock up their future before their entry level deals finish up, the Leafs know all too well how waiting too long can break the bank in the future. Auston Matthews was signed midway through the 2019 season to a 5 year deal north of $11 million meanwhile Mitch Marner secured a deal a month before season start with a 6 year deal worth over $10.5 million. Knies, granted isn't as high of calibre player as either Matthews or Marner but is still going to be a vital part of the Leafs for years to come.

History has shown that the Leafs panic when pushed up against the wall, and though Knies hasn't necessarily shown he's worth the ludicrous amounts paid out to the other Leafs stars, he certainly has played his way into a long-term deal. 8 years would bring Knies into the 2033 season, securing his prime years and ensuring stability but at what cost? $7 million? $8 million? $10 million?

Knies knows this. His agent knows this. It's the status quo for Toronto, and using their panic against them could be the leverage he needs to secure a Faber-esque deal.

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POLL
30 JUILLET \| 58 ANSWERS Do me a Faber: How Knies could command similar deal to ex-NCAA teammate How long will the Leafs sign Knies for?
5 Years	39	67.2 %
6 Years	11	19 %
7 Years	0	0 %
8 Years	8	13.8 %
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